{{Short description|2008 book by Don Van Ryn}} {{Infobox book | name = Mistaken Identity | image = Mistaken Identity book cover.jpg | caption = | author = Don and Susie van Ryn; Newell, Colleen and Whitney Cerak; and Mark Tabb | illustrator = | cover_artist = | country = United States | language = English | series = | subject = | publisher = Howard Books | pub_date = March 25, 2008 | english_pub_date = | media_type = Print (Hardcover) | pages = 288 | isbn = 978-1-4165-6735-6 | dewey= 617.4/810440922 B 22 | congress= RC1045.P78 M57 2008 | oclc= 191758333 | preceded_by = | followed_by = }}
'''''Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope''''' is a best-selling non-fiction book<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-whitney-cerak-0327,0,5769738.story | title = Whitney Cerak, crash survivor in ID mix-up, writes book | publisher =Chicago Tribune | access-date =2008-03-29}}</ref> describing an incident in which the identities of two young female casualties were confused after a vehicle crash. It was published by Howard Books on March 25, 2008. The book lists its authors as Don and Susie van Ryn; Newell, Colleen and Whitney Cerak; and Mark Tabb; the former the parents of Laura van Ryn (the woman believed to have survived the crash but actually deceased) and the latter the parents of Whitney Cerak, initially declared deceased in the crash but later found to have survived. Mark Tabb is a former pastor whom ''The New York Times'' described as "the go-to guy when a collaborator is needed on books with spiritual themes."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/books/review/13tbr.html?scp=1&sq=%22mistaken+identity%22&st=nyt|title=Inside the List|last=Garner|first=Dwight|date=13 April 2008|work=The New York Times|page=26|access-date=13 November 2010}}</ref>
Both the identity mixup<ref name = Today>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080328061649/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23825758/ Families speak about switched identity ordeal]. MSNBC. By Mike Celizic. March 27, 2008.</ref> and the book's release received worldwide media attention.<ref name="cbc">{{cite news | url =https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/mistaken-identity-has-family-keeping-vigil-over-wrong-woman-1.604391 | title = Mistaken identity has family keeping vigil over wrong woman | publisher =CBC News | access-date =2008-03-29 | date=2006-06-01}}</ref><ref name="bbc">{{cite news | url =https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5037536.stm | title = Coma woman mix-up pains US family | publisher =BBC News | access-date =2008-03-29 | date=2006-06-01}}</ref> It was the subject of a two-hour episode of ''Dateline NBC'', a program of ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', and a segment featured on ''The Today Show''.<ref name = Today /><ref name = wbbm /> The book was ranked 1st place for two weeks on the adult non-fiction ''New York Times'' Best Seller list in 2008. The incident prompted the states of Michigan and Indiana to pursue legislation concerning stricter guidelines in the process of identification of bodies by coroners.<ref name="indiana">{{cite web | url =http://www.in.gov/legislative/house_republicans/thisweek/index060922.html | title =Summer Study Committee Presents Ideas for Laws | publisher =Indiana House Republicans | access-date =2008-03-29}}</ref><ref name="michigan">{{cite web | url = http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=55776 | title =State Representative tries to prevent future identity mix-ups | publisher =WZZM13 NEWS | access-date =2008-03-29}}</ref>
==Story== On April 26, 2006, a Taylor University van carrying nine students and staff members collided with a tractor-trailer being driven by Robert F. Spencer on Interstate 69 in Indiana.<ref name = wbbm>[http://www.wbbm780.com/pages/1905338.php? Taylor 'Mistaken Identity' case relived in book]. WBBM Newsradio 780. March 28, 2008.</ref><ref name="usa">{{cite news | url =https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-05-31-indiana-mistaken-identity_x.htm | title = Case of mistaken identity stuns families | publisher =USA Today – Theodore Kim | access-date =2008-03-20 | date=2006-06-01}}</ref> Five people riding in the van died at the crash scene: Elizabeth Smith, Laurel Erb, Bradley Larson, and Monica Felver, and a young blonde woman the coroner identified as Whitney Cerak.<ref name = wbbm /> A similar looking woman who survived but was unable to communicate was identified as Laura van Ryn. However, after five weeks of hospitalization the identity of the surviving woman began to be questioned. She was found to be Whitney Cerak, not Laura van Ryn.<ref name = gaylord>[http://www.gaylordheraldtimes.com/articles/2008/03/01/news/top_stories/doc47c86c2c0e3ce707460251.txt 'Mistaken Identity: Two Families One Survivor, Unwavering Hope'] Gaylord Herald Times. March 1, 2008.</ref>
Some physical similarities existed between the two women; the severity of the injuries, which included severe head trauma and the immediate inability to communicate, led local government officials to misidentify the casualties. As a result, Cerak was taken care of by the van Ryn family in the belief that she was their daughter. Meanwhile, Laura was interred in a marked grave at a funeral with 1400 people in attendance. Five weeks passed before incidents arose that caused suspicion about Cerak's identity: she made comments about things and people that were inconsistent with facts pertaining to Laura, and a university roommate also reported some physical discrepancies. Cerak's identity was revealed when hospital staff asked her to write down her name; her identity was further confirmed by dental records. The mixup appeared to have been caused by the similarities of appearance between Cerak and van Ryn, and the confusion at the crash scene when Laura's purse was found near Whitney's body. Neither family spoke publicly about the incident for nearly two years.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-05-31-indiana-mistaken-identity_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=Mistaken ID stuns family | first=Theodore | last=Kim | date=2006-06-01 | access-date=2010-05-24}}</ref><ref>[http://17.taylor.edu/community/news/05_06/memorial.shtml In Loving Memory – Taylor University]</ref>
During the ''Dateline'' interview, it was noted that the van Ryn family suspected for several days something was amiss with Cerak before their concerns were shared with the hospital staff. The family noticed her teeth, as well as a navel piercing that van Ryn did not have. Cerak referred to herself as "Whitney" when she emerged from the coma and accused "her" parents of being "false parents" and told "her" sister their parent's names were Newell and Colleen. The van Ryns explained that their believing in the misidentification for a month was reinforced by reassurance by the hospital staff of the patient's identity and the distress of the situation.<ref>Celizic, Mike. (2008-03-27) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080328060135/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23824767/ Victim of mistaken identity draws faith from it – TODAY: People – MSNBC.com]. MSNBC. Retrieved on 2011-06-15.</ref>
==Fiction resembling the incident== Several screen productions since and before the events have featured stories of mistaken identity under similar circumstances: *''Reunion, and Turnabout'' – the second chapter of 2002 videogame Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney − Justice for All *"And Here's To You, Mrs. Azrael" – a 2006 episode of ''CSI: NY'' *"Alone" – a 2007 episode of ''House, M.D.'' * ''All We Know Of Heaven'' – a 2008 novel by Jacquelyn Mitchard that draws inspiration from the case *"Identity" – a 2012 episode of ''Body of Proof'' *''The Pretty One'' – a 2013 film with Zoe Kazan playing both women * 9-1-1 (TV series) (season 5) ”home and away”
==References== {{reflist}}
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Category:American memoirs Category:English-language non-fiction books Category:2008 non-fiction books Category:Collaborative non-fiction books Category:Taylor University